LinkedIn Students: Reducing Job Search Stress
Published on August 19, 2017, at 10:42 a.m.
by Kala Brumbaugh.
The final semesters at your chosen university tend to be pretty stressful. You’re juggling time between organizations, studying for finals, getting ready for graduation and preparing for life after college, which most likely includes a job.
Applying for jobs can become stressful and overwhelming for college seniors. The job hunt can often seem daunting and is dreaded by most.
You’ve done everything your professors have told you to do to prepare for life after college, but sometimes you need a little extra help. Networking and knowing where and how to search for jobs are huge parts of landing the job you want.
Communication and business professors often stress the importance of having an updated and professional LinkedIn account. The competitiveness of the PR job market is why understanding how to market and differentiate yourself is vital for landing a job. Having an updated LinkedIn account is an easy way for young professionals to do just that and create a professional network.
LinkedIn goes beyond a normal résumé and allows you to expand on specific skills and professional interests as well as connect with others in your field or network.
Sounds pretty great, right? Well, now it gets even better for college students.
On April 18, 2016, LinkedIn announced its new stand-alone app, LinkedIn Students. The goal of the app is to help millennials search for the job that fits them, network and reduce the stress of the first job hunt. The app gives personalized job listings and suggests professionals that students could contact in an attempt to learn more about the position and how to apply.
If you already have a LinkedIn profile, it’s as easy as downloading the app and entering your college, major and graduation date. The format of the app is designed to make it less overwhelming and easy to start and stop sessions at any time. This mobile interface is more convenient for busy students who may be checking for jobs in between classes.
Students can find companies that hire from their school as well as connect with recent alumni. The app also generates professional and relevant articles, videos and blogs. Users can star content they like or find useful to indicate their preferences in the app.
If the job hunt seems more than a little scary for you, then use all the help you can get. LinkedIn Students is a tool to make this process easier for you and perhaps land your dream gig.